Clevedon Beach

A pebbled beach under the pier

Clevedon’s beach is pebbled rather than sandy, which makes it a different day out from the sand and mud of Weston-super-Mare down the coast. Clevedon Pier juts out beyond it. The pier is described by North Somerset Council as the only Grade I listed pier in the country. It opened in 1869 and was built using Barlow iron left over from Brunel’s South Wales railway. Two end spans fell into the sea during load testing in 1970, and restoration carried on until 1998.

The Marine Lake

At the beach there is also the Marine Lake, which opened in 1929. Visit Somerset describes it as a training location for long-distance swimmers, and it is also used for watersports and crabbing. It is run by the charity MARLENS, which asks swimmers to follow its swimmers’ code and has no lifeguards; read the rules on the lake’s own site before you get in.

Dogs

Clevedon is one of the stricter beaches in North Somerset for dogs. The council does not allow dogs on the beach or at the Marine Lake at any time, apart from guide and assistance dogs, and they must be on a lead on the promenade. If you are travelling with a dog, Sand Bay is the nearest beach where the council allows them at any time. Check the council’s animals page before you go.

Tides and safety

North Somerset Council says the area has the second highest tidal range in the world, that the tide can come in very fast, and that there is no lifeguard service on any of its beaches. Its water safety guidance warns of soft sand and sinking mud on the North Somerset coast, so check the tide before you walk anywhere onto the foreshore. In an emergency call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Around the seafront

Public toilets are listed by the council at Pier Copse on The Beach. For the town behind the front, see Clevedon. Horses are not allowed on the beach at any time.